Thriftanista in the City

Sunshine, yellow pants , and free sunnies from RedStar . These are a few of my favorite things. Today felt very much like spring and wearing my yellow pants felt like the right thing to do! I'm standing right in the sun and enjoying the rays no matter how harsh the lines and weird shadows. It's warmish too. 

Happy Friday! It's time to feature another fabulous Thriftanista. This month is thrift and natural hair blogger and vlogger Rebecca of Secrets of Essence. I virtually met her via the BLM: Blogger Like Me Facebook group . I love "meeting" new thrifting buddies. Let's get started!

Hi! My name is Troy and I'm addicted to vintage polyester. I'm normally a fan of high quality fabrics but there's just something about vintage poly.  It is not a freedom fabric. It's not fondle worthy (shout out to the silk  kimono ) but it sure does look pretty AND THE SAME after every wash.

This is the most perfect of weekend attire. The kangaroo pouch red sweatshirt is ultra comfortable. The pocket keeps my hands warm and I can leave my big purse at home. Everything goes in the pouch. When I'm done running around, it's also a great place for the remote control that always seems to get lost on the couch.

I'm participating in Dina's Days reader thrift challenge .  Using only thrift finds, we are challenged to duplicate the look of the month. This month's challenge outfit was found on Pinterest and features a casual chic look that would work great in the SAHM closet.  I'm glad I participated because it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone with a trendy look that's not necessarily my style. I do enjoy experimenting.  SN: There's a thrift prize pack involved too! If you want to participate, email your look to Dina by March 24th. Details on her blog.

What is the most fun you can have on a Tuesday night? I'll give you a hint. It involves moonshine (or wine) and painting. Chicago's vintage swank Hotel Lincoln kicked off its Moonshine + Monet event last night. It's the perfect adventure for those of us who like the nightlife but also need to be in bed by 11p. photo credit  @hotellincoln

My self likes to wear interesting clothes. My self thrifted a kimono (I think) without a clue as to how to wear it. Much like my wedding day , I'm pretty sure I'm wearing this traditional garment all wrong. This beauty caught my eye with its gorgeous colors and watercolor like floral patten. The hand sewn stitching is impeccable. You could wear it inside out and it would still look amazing! I thought I had a new coat to wear but then there were openings where side pockets should be and ties all over the place that I don't know what to do with.

I never find anything good at the thrift store. I hear it all the time. If you're the lone thriftanista among your friends you've probably heard it too. While I don't doubt it can be a bit of a struggle finding the good stuff, I fully believe that everyone can be successful in the hunt for cheap (price not quality) fashionable finds.

As a special treat to myself, I spent a Violet free afternoon checking out Chicago designer Shontay Pinder's Spring / Summer 2014 Passport collection. The new collection featured an all white palette of modern style vintage tops, dresses and skirts. Perfect for me as I love to mix modern and vintage together. Glad to see the trend is hitting the runway!

If you're in a climate like Chicago, you probably don't need those spring clothes cropping up in stores just yet. We have a month, max 3 of chilly temperatures left. I am sick of my winter clothes but unless I want to freeze I'll need to keep wearing them a wee bit longer. I can however transition to spring with a few inexpensive pieces that I can wear now and after the thaw.

I attended  Anne Taylor  and  Marie Claire 's Own the Room event last week. I went because I've been seeking out opportunities to learn and flex my networking muscle. Given my  socially awkward nature , it's very difficult for me to put myself out there but I'm always looking for growth opportunities.  It's necessary for my entrepreneurial path. Also, I enjoy a good wine & cheese event. Own the room did not disappoint. 

I haven't officially opened my online thrift store, The Thriftanista Closet . I'm still moving things around but it is up and running! One of the collections I'm starting is a Style Capsule where I will add complete looks that highlight some of my favorite fashion trends like animal prints, elastic waist, and other oddities that somewhat identify my style.  I will likely turn this into a series of posts listing the item, the price, and a few details about why I have them in my closet and why it could work in yours. I hope you will check them out and click the links to go directly to the item.

This sponsored post is part of a  #MyMarianos  grocery store Chicago #shop hosted by the social shopper media company #CollectiveBias. One of my favorite things about Chicago is the food. We have an amazing selection of food choices to suit every palate. I don't have the opportunity to explore as much as I used to so I create foodie moments for us at home. With a little help from  Mariano's tastemakers  videos I've learned so much about food preparation and presentation. Recently, I checked out the tastemaker couple Rick and Ashley Ortiz of Antique Taco. The short video is packed with little morsels of info that were very helpful this weekend celebrating E's birthday.

This sponsored post is part of a cheapest wireless plans  #shop hosted by the social shopper media company #CollectiveBias. I am no stranger to treating myself. In fact, I treat myself everyday. Most of the time it doesn't involve a lot of money, maybe a nap when V naps or sneaking a cookie with my morning coffee but since there was a little extra cash from a tax refund, I went on a shopping spree! I know I'm not the only mom that feels some kind of way about  spending on myself so buying a want that is also a need alleviates the anxiety that can come from showing a little self love and taking a "momcation".  That's what I call the mini getaway I take to unwind from the day to day activities of running a household, taking care of V, and organizing my business ventures.